In other words, there are so many options out there that you can get stuck on the research phase and end up never getting anything. A starter kit lets you get started right now without having to waste time with all of that.

2. No worries about compatibility. Smart home modularization is great in theory, but the reality is that there are a handful of competing standards. If two products don’t support the same standard, they won’t work together.

A starter kit ensures that every product within the kit is compatible with each other. Plus, you won’t have to worry about missing parts. All needed cables, devices, and more will be included in the kit.

3. Cheaper than buying piecemeal. When you buy a starter kit, the price you pay usually includes a small discount, so you spend less than if you bought each component separately. The discounts aren’t huge, but they aren’t negligible either.

The Insteon line of products is a great entry point for newbies because of its user-friendliness. The dimmer modules allow you to control any plugged-in device from afar, but is especially useful for remote dimming of lamps (assuming the lamp is dimmable).

The Arlo Q is an indoor camera that has microphone/speakers for two-way communication, the ability to send alerts when motion or sound is detected, and free cloud storage for footage. The Arlo Wire-Free is weatherproof and works inside and outside. Both have night vision.

iSmartAlarm can send all kinds of updates — phone calls, text messages, emails, and push notifications — when one of the accessories are triggered, namely the Motion sensor or the Contact sensors (which are placed on doors and windows to sense when they’re opened).

Plus, the Remote tags allow you to interact with the system even when you don’t have your smartphone on you.

It’s simple and straightforward, but you get a lot for the price. There are two other packages available: Deluxe comes with two more Contact sensors whereas Premium comes with an iCamera Keep HD that you can use for visual and audio surveillance.

This smart lighting kit by Lutron is pretty awesome. All you do is replace your wall switches with the Lutron dimmers and you’ll be able to control them from afar, whether by using the included remotes or the Lutron mobile app.

Smart Homes: Not Just a Trend Anymore

People thought smart homes were a passing fad. Here we are several years later and the industry is going strong, and it doesn’t seem like it will let up any time soon.

Want to see what the fuss is all about? That’s what these starter kits are for! Pick one that looks intriguing to you and give it a try. At worst, it’s only money down the drain. At best, it’ll change your life.

LOL @ FCD! Yes, and if we could get federal funding for smart homes, racism and even terrorism would decline proportionally, and our health care crisis would soon be a thing of the past. Why you ask? Smart homes create simplicity and peace of mind - the basis of any healthy and sane society.

" The worst myth is that smart homes are expensive"
It's not myth, it is a matter of definition. For somebody who owns a house in Topanga Canyon and drives top of the line Beemer, the price of a smart home is pocket change. OTOH, for someone who lives in East LA, it is a choice between a smart home gewgaws and feeding their family. Ironically, for the latter, a smart home is a necessity while for the former it is an indulgence.